Interpretation #6855

Original Request

Code Version: 2007
Code: EXTBLDG
Code Description: Existing Building
Chapter: 13
Section: 1301.1
Topic: Tenant separation wall

Question

Is it the intent of the code to cover adding a second tenant, both tenants of type "B" occupancy to a building that was previously occupied by a single "B" tenant, so that a tenant seperation wall may not necessarily be required, at the discretion of the code official

Answer Published 10/26/2011 at 2:19 PM

No. FBC Building 708.1, 7 would apply. None of the
associated exception would apply. The wall needs to be
rated.

Commentary

By creating an additional tenant space, a tenant separation fire partition is required. see FBC 708.1, #7. The local Building Official may determine if some exemptions apply; such as if the space is a business less than 3,000 sq feet total and the original tenant sublets' the 3,000 sq feet into smaller business areas OR if a designer chooses to utilized chaper 13, the compliance alternatives scoring system MAY result in an arrangement that MAY not require tenant separation. Again, the Building Official can make a determination based on a code analysis of the entire situation.